3 -
the minimum number of adjudicators is increased from two to four at Obscene Articles Tribunal (OAT) full hearings lodged under section 15 to review the interim classification of articles, and under section 17 to reconsider previously classified articles;
an adjudicator who has sat on the interim hearing of an article would be disqualified from becoming a member of the tribunal to review or reconsider the same article at a full hearing; and
the OAT should identify, at both interim and full hearings, part or parts of an article which give rise to an "obscene" or "indecent" classification.
However, a spokesman for the Recreation and Culture Branch said the implementation of the requirement for the OAT to identify, at both interim and full hearings, part or parts of an article which give rise to an "obscene" or "indecent" classification, would be deferred.
"This is because the Judiciary will have to seek the creation of one magistrate post and to make accommodation and equipment available in order to discharge this duty.
"The proposed creation will go through a procedure of approval. It is expected that when an additional magistrate is in place by the end of the year, this particular provision will then commence," he said.
End/Friday, September 29, 1995
Hong Kong promotion ends on high note
The Chief Secretary, Mrs Anson Chan, said this (Friday) afternoon that she believed the visit of the Hong Kong delegation to Japan for the special week-long promotion had been able to allay the concerns of Japanese political leaders and businessmen over the future of Hong Kong.
Speaking at the end of the main business functions, she said the fact that leading Hong Kong businessmen and senior government officials were able to address these concerns in person had helped a great deal.
"However, what has also been very encouraging is the ready appreciation and recognition on the part for Japanese leaders, both in politics and in the business sector, that Japan has in interest in ensuring Hong Kong's continuing prosperity and stability because of their very substantial investments in Hong Kong. And that is most encouraging," Mrs Chan said.